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Florida Child Marriage Law: 17-Year-Olds Can Still Marry Under Narrow Conditions

February 6, 2026

Florida narrowed the pathway, but did not close it

Florida law says a marriage license may not be issued to a person younger than 18 unless the person is at least 17, has written parental or guardian consent, and the older party is not more than two years older. That is a narrower system than older child-marriage rules in many states, but it is still not a full under-18 ban.

Why that matters

Whenever an exception remains, the child protection concern remains too. A narrow exception may reduce some forms of risk, but it does not remove the legal possibility of a minor entering marriage. For that reason, Florida is still useful to compare with states that now use a simple 18-without-exceptions rule.

Related reading

Compare New York, Michigan, and Texas.

Official sources

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